Browns name Joe Flacco starter

The Browns officially designate Joe Flacco as the season opener quarterback, emphasizing leadership and proven production.

Browns name Joe Flacco starter the Stefanski plan hinges on experience

The Browns on Monday officially named Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback to open the season. Flacco joined Cleveland late last season and helped the team reach the postseason, a familiarity head coach Kevin Stefanski cited as part of the decision. In a Tuesday press conference, Stefanski said Flacco has done exactly what the team asked and that they have a lot of confidence in him. Flacco has been the only healthy quarterback since camp began, as others dealt with injuries, but Stefanski stressed that the job was earned, not given by default. The Browns expect to lean on Flacco’s experience as they prepare for 2025, while acknowledging the quarterback room has worked hard and set a high standard. Flacco is likely to play in the preseason finale against the Rams, with exact playing time to be announced later this week.

Choosing Flacco signals the team’s emphasis on stability and game management over unproven upside from younger quarterbacks. It also raises questions about the development path for Cleveland’s other passers and whether the offense will grow quickly enough to meet the team’s aspirations. Stefanski’s insistence on a high standard for the position shows the coach’s desire to preserve structure and accountability, even as the roster rotates through injuries. The preseason matchup against the Rams will offer a first test of how the Browns balance instruction with real game reps as they edge toward the regular season.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal how this veteran choice shapes the Browns’ tempo and development path for 2025.